Historic Headlines

On Sept. 12, 1977, Stephen Biko, one of South Africa’s most influential anti-apartheid activists, died after being beaten by South African police during an interrogation. South African authorities claimed that
Mr. Biko’s hunger strike caused his death.

A leader of the anti-apartheid struggle, Steve Biko had founded the Black Consciousness Movement, which emphasized black pride and a rejection of white ruling-class values. Unlike African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela, who sought cooperation between races, Mr. Biko believed that the development of black culture
and identity (i.e., black consciousness) would lead to black liberation from apartheid.

The Sept. 13 New York Times reported that many anti-apartheid leaders did not believe the reported cause
of Mr. Biko’s death, and that there were fears that his death could spark violence. The article quoted Zulu Chief Gaisha Buthelezi: “I will not be able to curb my people, and indeed I soon may not
want to curb my people, when they adopt an attitude of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.”

Mr. Biko’s autopsy revealed that he died not of hunger strike, but of a brain hemorrhage from being struck multiple times in the head. The government nevertheless asserted that Mr. Biko’s injuries were
self-inflicted. It was not until 1997 that five officers admitted while testifying before the post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation
Commission, a panel established in 1995 to investigate and bring to light offenses committed during the apartheid era, that they had killed Mr. Biko.

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Steve Biko’s widow objected to the commission’s decision to hear the officers’ testimony, fearing that her husband’s killers could receive amnesty. The commission ruled that the murder was
not a political crime. While the officers’ applications for amnesty were rejected, they ultimately escaped prosecution due to lack of evidence.

Amnesty for criminals may seem difficult to justify, but this type of transitional justice has been invaluable to countries like South Africa seeking to heal the wounds of systemic brutality and oppression. As a 1997 New York Times op-ed piece explained, “Without the lure of amnesty, it is likely that no one who knew of Mr. Biko’s murder would have talked, making convictions impossible.” It further noted that the Commission “trades
the impossible for the possible, namely information that is indispensable for healing after apartheid.”

On a related note, in June 2011 the British government subpoenaed Boston College for its collection of oral histories of Irish Republican Army figures who spoke on the condition that their testimony and identity would not be released until after they died. However, the British sought to prosecute them for crimes committed during the decades-long conflict
known as the Troubles. Many academics fear that the release of the oral histories will discourage other participants from telling their stories for the historical record.

Do you believe that those who committed crimes in the past should be granted amnesty or anonymity for their testimony under certain circumstances? Why or why not? How do you think a country or group of people can most
effectively address past injustices to lay the foundation for a more just future?

I think that them people should heve never killed that man because that man was hungry and plus he ran out of brain hemmorhage. I really hate when people do other people like that.I mean they were all black.I could
see if the policeman were white men, but they were african american men too.That was just harsh and terrible at the same time.People these days just don’t have no care about other people. Not even their
own color.

Yes i believe that those who committed crimes in the past should be granted amnesty for thier testimony, cause even though that was in the passed, its never tolate to do it. Casey anthony had a crime to dill with
two years ago and now their finally dilling with it this year.

My opinion is that they shuold have never killed him because they had no right to put their hands on him and if they didnt beat him he would still be alive right now also he didnt think the law back then was fair
so he started a boycott.

I Think The Police In The Past Should’nt Had Killed Steve Biko Because That Was Very Wrong And Disrespectful , All He Wanted Is To End Blacks Againest Whites . Steve Biko Did’nt Died From Hunger Strike
He Was Beaten In His Head Many Times By The South African Police . If Steve Was’nt Killed He Will Be Speaking To Thousands Of People .

They shouldnt have killed himmand no one shouldve put there hands on him i dont care if he was purple black white or red he was hungry and if they wouldnt have beated him badly he wouldnt have had the brain hemmorhage
that is awful ! As i wonder i think about what if this happen to those men who killed him how would they feel if this happen to them ! steve biko didnt need this all he need was food whats the problem with that
..but may he rest in peace and let his soul live on for ever !

iPersonally Feel That They Should Still Take Effect Into That Because They Shouldnt Have Never Kiilled That Man . For One He Was Hungry , Poor.I Beieve That Those Who Commited Crimes In The Past Should Still Be
Granted Annested For Their Doing Reguardless If It Was In The Past If They Think They Got Away With It Then They Probably Think They Can Get Away With It Now !

I Think The Police In The Past Should’nt Had Killed Steve Biko Because That Was Wrong And Disrespectful , All He Wanted Is To End Blacks Againest Whites . They know Steve Biko didnt Die From Hunger Strike
He Was Beaten In His Head Many Times By The South African Police . If Steve Was’nt Killed He Will Be Speaking To Thousands Of People today.

i do think that people who committed crimes in the past should be granted amnestyfor their testimony because even thoe it might have happened a long time ago they could always go back a do it again and it should
not be accepted.

how i fill about this story is that people should not be beaten nor killed for something stupid and if some people was getting beaten they should fight back,and nobody should kill a anti-apartheid leader cuz its
wrong and somebody might wind up killing them

I think that we will hear this story more because the jails are getting more violent every year…………..i think the police that was included in this story need to be taken care of because
they did something that they cant do!

Those policeman were all Afrikaaner white men. Pretoria police headquarters were always white, in 1970’s in South Africa there were no black policeman. We were the minority group who were ordered at school
guidance to be carpenters and teachers and of our local schools and hospitals as black and colored workers looked after the black and colored locations. Pretoria were Steve Biko died was a white community, those
days if people if color and black were found in white areas they would be arrested and potentially killed for the addiction of the boers – afrikaaner (white) addiction to brutality. I am a victim of post
apartheid police brutality and this was in the year 2009, again white afrikaaner policeman. I was in a womans correctional service were I collected countless if police brutality arrests of black and colored
woman need it be robbery or murder of a white person. The afrkaaner white police brutality extends as far as electricution on womans breast and mens testicals, along with beatings from a group of officers ordered
normally ordered by the Captain of the squads. Stephen Biko was killed by white – afrikaaner policeman, it’s still continues till this day !